Saving the daughter of Brahmadatta by Pradyumna and Shri Krishna’s arrival at Satpura

Vaishampayana said — О Janamejaya, at the same time a Brahmana named Brahmadatta, well versed in all the Vedas besides their six supplementary, undertook diksa for the performing of a yearlong yajna. He was the disciple of yajnavalkya, possessed all the religious virtues, besides being a great scholar of the Sukla- yajurveda and Vajasneyi sarhhita. He also lived in Satpura. He had got the Asvamedha sacrifice performed by the intelligent Vasudeva. He performed yajna over the bank of the auspicious river Avarta, which was served by the sages.

О son of Kuru race, Brahmadatta — the excellent Brahmana was the class fellow, friend, teacher as well as the performer of the yajna of Vasudeva.

О lord, therefore as Indra pays a visit to Brhaspati, similarly Vasudeva also visited Brhaspati, similarly Vasudeva with Devaki visited Satapur, on an invitation from Brahmadatta.

The yajna of Brahmadatta was to be performed with enormous cereals as well as daksina. The excellent sages who performed strictly the vratas, participated in that yajna.

О son of Bharata’s race, this yajna was meant for the enhancement of the success of Vasudeva in which, I myself, the sage Vyasa — my preceptor, Yajnavalkya, Sumantu, Jaimini, auspicious Jabali, Devala and other Rishis also participated. In that yajna with the influence of Vasudeva (Krishna) — the creator of the universe, the goddess Devaki (his mother) distributed to all the articles desired by them.

After the start of the yajna, Nikubha and other demons dwelling in Satpura, who had been filled with arrogance because of the boon of Brahma reached the place of yajna and spoke to Brahmadatta.

A portion of the yajna should be earmarked for us. We shall consume somarasa in this yajna. Brahmadatta — the host should give away his daughter to us.

We have heard that Brahmadatta has a number of beautiful daughter. You call for all of them and give them to us in charity. Brahmadatta should also give us the best of gems, (only then he can perform the yajna) otherwise we command that he should not perform the yajna.”

On hearing this, Brahmadatta then said to the great asuras, “O foremost of the asuras, there is no provision in the ancient Vedic scriptures for giving away a part of the yajna to the asuras, then how can I give you the somarasa? (In case of any doubt) you can clarify this from the great Rishis who are well versed in the Vedas and are present here.

The girls who were to be given away in clarity have already been given over by me (to others). Now I have to entrust them to their grooms in his mandapa. There is no doubt about it.

In so far as the gems are concerned, I shall give then to you in case you talk in a peaceful manner. You must think over the matter patiently. In case you try to get them perforce, I shall never give them to you, because I have already taken refuge with lord Krishna. (He will surely protect me.”

At this reply of Brahmadatta, Nikukmbha and other demons of Satpura, who were sinful, were filled with rage. They destroyed the yajna mandapa and kidnapped the daughters of Brahmadatta.

Witnessing the plumder in the place of yajna, Vasudeva, the father of Shri Krishna, thought of his sons, (Krishna and Baladeva) and Gada.

Shri Krishna was well aware of everything. He said to Pradyumna, “O son, you go and protect the daughters of Brahmadatta with Maya (illusion). By the same time, I with the army of Yadava soldiers, shall proceed to Satpura.

The valorous Pradyumna — the incarnation of the god of love, was always obedient to the command of his father. He at once proceeded towards Satpura and reached there in the twinkling of an age and abducted all the girls with his illusion.

Pradyumna — the son of Rukmini, creator duplicate girls with illusion and left them with the asuras. Then Pradyumna said to Devaki, his grand mother, “O grand ma, donot be afraid.”

О Naresvara, the daughters of Brahmadatta, were not meant for the Daityas. They actually kidnapped the illusory girls and entered Satpura feeling satisfied at their success.

On the other hand, the Yajna was processed as per provision of the scriptures. All the special rites of the yajna which were necessary, were duly performed.

In the meantime several of the kings arrived there, who had already been invited by Brahmadatta.

The kings like Jarasandha, Dantavaktra, Sisupala, Pandava Dhrtarastra with all his sons, king of Malava with his army, Rukmi, Ahvrtti, NIta, Dharma, Vinda, and Anuvinda of Avanti, Salya, Sakuni, other valorous rulers, the great and other warriors holding their weapons also arrived there, who were lodged at a distance from Satpura.

Finding them present there the sage Narada thought, there is bound to be a conflict between Yadavas and other Ksatriyas.

I shall be the cause of this war and for that purpose I shall make efforts now itself. Thus thinking, he went to the place of Nikumbha.

Nikumbha and other Danavas accorded welcome to Narada gracefully, Narada then taking his seat said to Nikumbha.

How are you sitting here peacefully by picking up a row with the Yadavas? Actually Brahmadatta represents Shri Krishna. Because Brahmadatta happens to be the friend of Vasudeva — the father of Sr! Krishna.

The virtuous Brahmadatta has five hundred wives, which had been received by him, by the grace of Shri Krishna.

Two hundred of his wives are from the Brahmana families one hundred of then belong to Ksatriya families, one hundred of then belong to the Vaisya families and the rest of one hundred are from Sudra families.

All those woman had adored the sage Durvasa — the foremost of the performers of the dharma — yajnas. The auspicious sage, having been pleased with them pronouced a boon on them.

“O king, with the boon of the sage Durvasa, each one ofthe wife of Brahmadatta, gave birth to a son and a daughter. All his daughters are extremely beautiful.

О valorous asura, all his girls, while living with their husbands, at every union, get charming like the maids.

The beautiful girls issue various types of fragrance from their bodies. They are all chaste and always remain youthful.

О Daitya prince, all of them are virtuous like the apsaras and because of the boon of the sage Durvasa, they can display their proficency in dance and music as well.

All their sons are beautiful, and well - versed in discussions and remain devoted to their respective dharmas of their individual varnas.

The intelligent Brahmadatta, has married all the girls to the prominent people of the race of Yadu. Only one hunred of them remained who have been abducted by you.

For them also you will have to fight with Yadavas. Therefore the Yadava kings have already arrived here.

For the sake of the daughters of Brahmadatta, you should offer enough of gems to these kings, who so ever kings reach here, you should welcome them gracefully,”

At these words of Narada, the asuras were immensely delighted and they did so as advised. All the rulers, receiving the five hundered girls and the gems, and distributed them amongst themselves, appropriately.

Leaving the five Pandavas, all other rulers accepted the share of the girls as well as the gems. The sage Narada reached there in the twinkling of an eye and prevented the Pandvas from accepting their share of girls and the gems.

Receiving the gems and the girls, all the best of rulers were extremely pleased. They said to the asuras, “You possess all the desired pleasures and can move in the sky as well, still you have welcomed us appropriately. Therefore you tell us as to what should be done by the group of Ksatriyas? The strong people like you have, for the first time adored the Ksatriyas."

On hearing these words, the delighted Nikumbha — the enemy of the gods, spoke about the glory of the Ksatriya, repeatedly then spoke to them.

“О excellent rulers, we have to start a war with our enemies, in which your help is solicited. This is what is desired by me.

О lord, of all the Ksatriyas — except the Pandavas whose sins had vanished, said, “Be it so”, accepting his request. Pandavas had already know the entire situation from Narada, therefore they disassociated themselves from the rest.

О son of Kuru race, all the rest of the Ksatriyas, getting ready for the war, kept on camping there. On the other hand the wives of Brahmadatta entered the place of yajna, while Shri Krishna too arrived in Satpura.

Shri Krishna, keeping the words of Mahadeva, in mind, had entrusted the care of Dvaraka to Ugrasena and had arrived at Satpura.

Lord Janardana, accompanied with his army, for the benefit of the people of Satpura, camped at a benevolent place at some distance from the yajna — mandapa.

Shri Krishna then deployed the security guards there appropriately, because of which no undesirable person could enter the place. At the same time, he deputed his son Pradyumna to take care of the entire army.

Here ends chapter — 83, of Visnu Parva, of the Harivamsa Purana, a supplementary of the epic of the Mahabharata, relating to the saving of the daughters of Brahmadatta by Pradyumna

Chapter 84

Destruction of the demon army by Shri Krishna, Pradyumna’s assurance to Brahmadatta and Shri Krishna’s arrival at Satpura. (Vrs. 1-56, P.T. = 7764)

Vaishampayana said — О Janamejaya, о best of the kuru race, after the lapse of two ghadis of the sunrise all the three Balarama, Shri Krishna and Satyiki, mounted over Garuda, wearing the gloves of the lizard skin and the coat of arms. They got ready for the war. They first of all took bath in the river of Avarta, which had been sanctified with the words of lord Siva. Then they offered their salutation to lord Bilvodakesvara. Thereafter they engaged themselves in the preparation of war.

Shri Krishna who honoured everyone, the refuge of the noble people, established Pradyumna, first of all in the sky for guarding the army. The Panduvas were entrusted with the security of the yajna mandapa. The rest of the army was positioned at the opening of the cave. Then Shri Krishna remembered Jayanta and Pravara.

О son of Bharata’s race, both of them arrived there and they themselves met Lord Krishna, who also positioned them both in the sky.

Then at the command of Shri Krishna, the war was declared. The conches were blown, besides the war drums were sounded.

Both Samba and Gada, made the makara formation of the Yadava army and Sarana, Uddhava, Bhoja, Vaitarna, the noble Anadrsti, Prstha, Viprthu, Krtavarma, Damstra and Nicaksu - the destroyer of enemies were positioned in the front part of the vyUha or military formations.

The auspicious Sanatkumara and Carudesna both were positioned for the guarding the army on the rear side. О king you enhanced their own races, the rest of the Yadava army was filled with the chariots, steed, foot soldiers and the elephants, besides other soldiers were positioned in the middle the said military formation.

Thereafter the war mongering Danavas came out of Satpuras. Some of them mounted over the donkeys, some mounted over the brawing asses and trumpeting elephants resembling the thundering of clouds.

О son of Bharata’s race, several of the forceful warriors, were mounted over the crocodile buffaloes, shinocersses, camels and the tortoise.

Several of the soldiers had the chariots driven by these animals. Mounting over these chariots, the demon soldiers were carrying various types of weapons in their hands. They were adorned with turbans, crowns, KirTtas, besides the armlets.

Several type of war bands were on play with them, the sound of which was mixed with the rumbling sound of the chariot wheels. The conches were blown with great force which produced the sound like the thundering clouds.

О lord of the people, in the demon army, ready for waging the war, Nikumbha marched ahead of all like Indra among the gods.

The immensely strong Danavas uttered roaring sound variously, thundered repeatedly, which echoed on earth and in the sky.

О Janamejaya, the army of the kings also with their resolve to help the asuras, marched forward under the leadership of Sisupala — the king of Chedi country, for waging a war.

Duryodhana — the lion among the humans, with his hundered brothers was marching ahead of Sisupala — the king of Chedi country. All of them were mounted over the chariots of the Gandharvaraja type.

О valorous one, the chariots of the king Drupada, created thundering sound with the rumbling of their wheels. Both Rukmi and Ahrti took their positions in war. Both of them started waving their bows like the palm trees.

The rulers like Salya, Sakuni, Bhagadatta, Jarasandha, Susarma — the rulers of Trigarta country, king Virata with Uttara, desirous of waging the war, took their positions under the demon king Nikumbha. As the great warriors intend to fight with the gods, similarly all these rulers were desirous of fighting with the Yadavas.

Then Nikumbha shooting the arrows which were poisonous as the serpents and were terrific to look at, started destroying the army of the Yadavas.

The Yadava army commander Anadhesti could not face the attack of Nikumbha. Still he shattered the demons with the shooting of the winged arrows sharpened at the stone slabs.

With the arrows shot by Andhrsti neither the chariot nor the horses of Nikumbha could be visible, what to speak of the chariot flag or Nikumbha himself. All of them were covered with the arrows.

Then Nikumbha, who was the best among the illusory demons, went round on all the sides and making use of the knowledge of illusion, he made Anadhrsti inactive.

Making Anadhrsti inactive, Nikumbha carried him in a cave in Satpura and imprisoned him there. Then Nikumbha who restarted the use of illusion, returned again to the battle ground.

This time again, Nikumbha made use of the illusion kidnapped several Yadava warriors like Krtavarma, Carudesna, Bhoja, Vaitarana, Sanatkumara, Rksa — the son of Jambavati, Nisatha, Ulmaka and several other warriors of Bhoja family.

О king of the people, the body of Nikumbha, while ’kidnapping the Yadava warriors was not visible, under the influence of his illusion.

Finding the terrific destruction of the warriors of Bhlma — vaihsa, Shri Krishna, Balarama, and Satyaki, who frightened their enemies, were immensely enraged.

Pradyumna — the incarnation of Kama - the god of love, was particularly enraged. The other Yadava warriors who were awful in war also felt enraged.

Then Shri Krishna in anger, strung his Saranga bow and as the fire enteres the straw, he similarly started shooting arrows at the demons.

Finding lord Govinda there, all the demons pounced upon him like the fireflies rush to the fire flames bound with the nooses of kala.

He started shooting thousands of spears, parighas, fire like tridents and the battle axces in flames.

The demons kept on throwing mountain peaks, trees, huge and awful stone slabs, the intoxicated elephants, chariots and horses at Shri Krishna.

But the immensely illustrious lord Krishna who was benevolent for the world, smilingly turned himself into fire and with those flames and reduced all the things to ashes.

As a patient bull patiently bears the rain of the winter season, quietly, similarly, Shri Krishna — the lord of the Yadu race, quietly bore the shower of the rain of arrows by the Daityas.

But as bridges of sound, cannot stand the force of the rain dropped by the clouds, similarly the asuras could not face the arrows shot by the arrows of Shri Krishna.

О Bharata, as a bull cannot stand before the lion with its mouth opened, similarly the demons could not face the force of the arrows shot by Shri Krishna.

Frightened from the attack of Narayana, saving their lives, they flew in the sky.

But the Daityas who tried to escape from the arrows of Shri Krishna, were killed in the sky by Jayanta and Pravara. With the shooting of the terrific arrows at them.

The severed heads of the demons started falling on the ground, like the fruits of the palm trees.

О valorous one, the severed arms of the Daityas, were falling like the hoods of five hooded snakes having been killed by the moves of destiny.

Thereafter, Gada, Sarana, Aniruddha, Samba and other Yadava warriors, who could not be destroyed by Nikumbha in the cave, then the auspicious Pradyumna — the son of Rukmini, created an awful cave with illusion and were about to imprison all the groups of Ksatriyas in the cave, which had no exit gate.

О Naresvara, the valorous princes of Shri Krishna, trying to force victory at the beginning of the war, threw Karna with force, and captured him inspite of his floundering and jumping violently. Then capturing him, they started to imprison him in the illusory cave.

О Bharata, similarly, they captured the kings like Duryodhana, Virat, Drupada, Sakuni, Salya, NIta, Bhishma, Vinda and Anuvinda, Jarasandha, Trigarta, Malava, valorous Sasantyas, besides Dhrstedyumna — the Pancala warrior. Then they addessing their maternal uncle Ahavrtti and Rukmi, Sisupala and Rukmi besides Bhagadatta, spoke.

“O Rudra, keeping in view the relation we have with you and its sanctity, I highly value it. Still I am going to throw you in this terrific cave for which I have been commanded by the trident bearer Bilvadakesvara. He had desired all of you to be thrown in the cave.

The valorous Nikumbha, making use of the illusion of Sambari, has imprisoned some Yadavas in the cave. I shall surely get them freed.”

On hearing these words, Sisupala — the commander, injured Pradyumna and other Yadavas with the shooting of his arrows.

Then Pradyumna - the son of Rukmini, offering his salutation to Bilvodakesvara, started binding the king, Sisupala.

Then Nandi — the courtier of lord Siva, carried a thousand nooses and said to Pradyumna.

“O son of Yadu race, lord Bilvoda- kesava, has sent a message to you that you should perform the whole task in the night itself, as has been desired by him.

О son of the Yadu race, the rulers, who were greedy for the girls and the gems should be impresoned bound with nooses. Only you can them release than if you so desire subsequently.

О immensely valorous one, you must destroy the asuras. No one among them should be left alive. You should speak to Janardana, similarly.

О lord of the earth, О son of the Kura race, because of the nooses prononced by lord Siva, they bound all the rulers like Bhagadatta, Sisupala, Ahuvrtti, Rukmi and all others and imprisoned them in the illusory cave.

The son of Rukmini, then hessing like the serpents he took a deep sigh and lodged all the rulers in the cave binding them with the nooses. Then he entrusted their security to Aniruddha — his son.

О Bharata, then Pradyumna — of the race of yadus, bound them all of them with nooses. Thereafter he overpowered the Ksatriya commanders, treasures the elephants, horses and the groups of chariots.

Then, feeling quite peaceful, he stood there for the distraction of the asuras. Then standing close to Brahmadatta, said to him, “O Brahmana, you should carry out your yajna fearlessly. Look here Arjuna has taken a position to protect you.

О best of the Brahmanas, those who are protected by the Pandavas, they should not be afraid of the gods, asuras, and the Nagas.

The asuras could not touch your daughters even mentally. You look into the yajna — mandapa. I have concealed them with my illusion.

Here ends chapter — 84, of Visnu Parva of the Harivamsa Purana, a supplementory of the epic of Mahabharata, relating to the destruction of the demon army by Shri Krishna and Pradyumna’s assurance to Bhagadatta. (Vrs. 1-68, P.T. = 7832)

Chapter 85

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